Fitial asks for China, Russia in waiver program, again

As the comment period for the proposed Guam- CNMI Visa Waiver Program ended, Gov. Benigno Fitial once again asked the Department of Homeland Security to consider allowing China and Russian tourists to enter the CNMI without a visa.

The 60-day comment period for the interim final rule ended Tuesday Washington D.C. time. The proposed regulations left out the two countries as part of the waiver program that will go into effect as part of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, which will extend federal immigration laws to the CNMI. The start date for the law is June 1, with a possible delay of up to 180 days. The CNMI has sued DHS and the U.S. Department of Labor to halt the implementation of the law.

China and Russia, which were left off the list due to security concerns, according to DHS, should be included to help prevent an economic collapse in the islands’ economy, Fitial said in a statement.

“The intention of Congress in passing the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, as stated in the statute, was to expand tourism opportunities for the islands. Ending travel by Russian and Chinese tourists is clearly contrary to congressional intent,” he said. “We are working with DHS to find a mutually agreeable remedy.”

The CNMI government, through its Marianas Visitors Authority, has estimated the small island economy in the CNMI will lose 656 public sector jobs and 733 private sectors jobs if China and Russia are excluded in the proposed waiver, the statement said.

Although Fitial was not one of the 47 people or entities to submit public comments to the government through the regulations.gov Web site, the governor met with Assistant Secretary Richard Barth of Homeland Security in February in Washington D.C. to discuss the issues in person.

CNMI Delegate Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan was the last person to comment on the proposed regulations.

Sablan said absent a finding that the inclusion threatens the welfare, safety, or security of the United States or its territories, China and Russia should be included. But if they are excluded, DHS needs to set a procedure on how they can be reconsidered in the future, and detail what extra security measures are necessary. The congressman also asked that the regulations make clear visitors can visit Guam for 45 days and the CNMI for 45 days.

Elitza Stoilova, the Russian market manager for Pacific Island Clubs Saipan, noted that although Russia is 1.8 bigger in landmass than the U.S., there are only three cities with U.S. consulates, making obtaining a visa expensive, difficult and time-consuming.

Fitial, in the statement, said the CNMI is hopeful Homeland Security will take the public input into consideration.

“The Marianas community has been working in good faith with officials at the DHS. It is very disappointing to hear in media reports today that contrary to what we were told in January by DHS officials, the door has already been closed regarding travel by Chinese and Russian tourists,” Fitial said. “We sincerely hope DHS did not make a decision on this before the comment period ended yesterday and testimonies were considered.”